Instagram for beginners

Instagram is primarily a social media tool used to share and receive images and videos, while having the ability to filter content, comment on it, and send direct messages to other users. 

Instagram is one of the most popular apps in the world with over 2 billion users. Until today, I was not one of them.

Feel free to view this tutorial for beginners as I did, or read below to get started:

1. Signing Up:

• Download the Instagram app or go to instagram.com.
• Tap "Sign Up" or "Create New Account".
• Enter your details like name, password, date of birth, and contact information (phone number or email).
• Choose a unique username that's easy for others to find you.
• Verify your account using the code sent to your chosen contact method.
• Agree to Instagram's terms and policies.

2. Setting Up Your Profile:

• Go to your profile page.
• Tap "Edit Profile" to customize it.
• Add a profile picture, write a bio (up to 150 characters), and include your pronouns if desired. 

3. Navigating the Instagram Feed:

• The Instagram Feed is where you see posts from accounts you follow.
• You can scroll through posts to view them.
• To like a post, double-tap it or tap the heart icon.
• To comment on a post, tap the speech bubble icon, type your comment, and tap "Post".
• To share a post with friends, tap the airplane icon. 

4. Sharing Content:

• Creating a Post:
  • Tap the "+" icon at the bottom or top right to post.
  • Select a photo or video from your device, or take a new one.
  • Apply filters or edits to your media.
  • Write a caption, use relevant hashtags, and tag others if applicable.
  • Share your post.
• Creating a Story:
  • Swipe right from your home screen or tap your profile picture to access the Story camera.
  • Capture a photo or video, or upload from your gallery.
  • Enhance your Story with stickers, text, and filters.
  • Share it to "Your Story" or send it to selected friends. 

5. Interacting with Others:

• Following Accounts:
  • Use the search bar (magnifying glass icon) to find people.
  • Go to their profile and tap "Follow".
  • You can also find suggested users based on your contacts or the "Discover" feature.
• Direct Messaging:
  • Tap the paper airplane or messenger icon in the top right to access DMs.
  • Start a new conversation or select an existing one.
  • Type your message and send.
  • You can also send photos, videos, and voice messages in DMs. 

6. Exploring More:

• Instagram Stories Highlights: Save your favorite Stories to your profile for longer than 24 hours.
• Reels: Create and discover short, entertaining videos.
• Live: Go live to stream video in real-time. 

Here's a sample of what the Instagram homepage looks like on a computer screen. 

This breakdown helps convey the difference between various types of posts one can create:

• Reels:

  Short-form video creation and sharing with music, effects, and other creative tools. 
• Stories:

  Temporary, disappearing content shared for a 24-hour period, often including interactive elements like polls and quizzes. 
• Filters and editing options:

  Instagram offers a wide array of built-in filters and editing tools to enhance photos and videos. 
• Explore tab:

  Discovering new content and accounts based on your interests and engagement. 
• Direct messaging with interactive features:

  Sending GIFs and stickers, as well as creating interactive polls in group chats. 
• Visual focus:

  The platform is heavily skewed towards visual content, with less emphasis on text-based posts. 

Here is what notifications look like. Click on one to interact with that user.

Q: What can you do on Instagram that you cannot do on Facebook?

A: Instagram is primarily a visual platform focused on photos and videos, with features like Stories, Reels, and filters that enhance visual content. Facebook, on the other hand, supports a wider range of content, including text-based posts, events, groups, and more. While you can share some visual content from Instagram to Facebook, the reverse is not always seamless.